Lights, camera, action, and the show begins. These few words sum up the world of Bollywood, the world that is shown in front of the camera, the world that only talks about stardom, creativity, and money. However, what happens when the lights go off, the camera stops rolling and the action is put on pause. There’s more to Bollywood than what meets the eye. In this industry, where stars shine brighter, sometimes the same stars fade away because of several circumstances. Yes, some step away from success right when it touches their feet, while some let it slip like sand. Today, let’s have a look at the Bollywood icons who once were at the helm of the industry and then just vanished.
Raj Kiran: A smile that once brightened the screen faded away in the darkness of depression
He was once a beloved face of Indian cinema. He worked in some of the most iconic movies like ‘Arth,’ ‘Karz,’ ‘Mazdoor’, ‘Ghar Ek Mandir’, ‘Aaj Ka Daur’ and more. His every performance solidified his place in the industry. People commended him not just for his stellar performances, but for his compassion, intelligence, and warmth. His ‘Karz’ co-star Rishi Kapoor also mentioned once that Raj was a very charming and a well-read person. However, in the early 2000s, his career took a different turn, as he simply vanished.
There was an air of mystery around his disappearance. No one in the industry had a clue where the actor went. Years later, Rishi Kapoor met Raj Kiran’s elder brother Govind Mehtani. Rishi Kapoor was worried and wanted to know if Raj was still alive, and to his relief the ‘Arth’ star was. However, he wasn’t in great shape. He was institutionalized in the US, where he was being treated for acute depression. And that was the last we heard of him.
Rahul Roy: The heartthrob who never wanted to be an actor in the first place
When ‘Aashiqui’ was released in 1990, the Indian film industry didn’t only get an evergreen movie, it got a superstar. Yes, a superstar was born overnight when Rahul Roy made his debut with ‘Aashiqui.’ He redefined romance, established his lover boy image, and created a loyal fan base. However, the movies following his debut release couldn’t create the same magic that ‘Aashiqui’ did. As years went by, Rahul faded from the silver screen.
In 2020 he faced one of his life’s hardest phases, when he had a brain stroke. He was shooting for a movie when the initial signs of the health scare were neglected and it eventually led to this life-threatening situation. Talking about the same during one of his interactions with ETimes, Rahul Roy said, “I have learnt through this incident, that we, as actors, must take risks, but not at the cost of our own lives. It is dangerous to just trust random, unripe professionals who have no idea of the process of making films and may do hazardous things to achieve their goals.
I would like to especially say this to actors of this generation and to aspiring actors who are looking forward to entering this industry to be an actor. Don’t let your work go to your head and don’t let anybody take your advantage and put you on your deathbed. This is the scariest thing that can happen to anybody. You must only trust amateurs and the right professionals.”
Though the actor is looking for good work, something that has substance, he admitted being an actor was never his priority. A lot of actors have performed exceptionally well with their work in the second innings, but Rahul is in no hurry to jump that wagon either. He admitted, “I never started out to become an actor. Actually, I always wanted to be a supermodel.”
As of now, for him, the priority for now is his recovery.
Dino Morea: The model-turned-actor who shifted gears
In the early 2000s with movies like ‘Raaz’ and ‘Gunaah.’ Dino Morea was able to charm all with his chiseled looks and lover boy image. However, after a series of box office failures, he decided to take a step back. He got into entrepreneurship and invested in various ventures. In 2023 he gave it another shot by shifting his focus to Malayalam cinema. Talking about the same he mentioned it doesn’t matter what language it is, as the focus was never on Hindi or Malayalam, it was on acting
“I haven’t changed my focus. My focus is to be a fantastic actor and to obviously act in various films. My focus is always on acting, whether the movie comes from the Telugu film industry, the Malayalam film industry, the Kannada film industry, or our very own Hindi film industry. I want to act, and when a fantastic movie or a great character is offered to me, irrespective of the language—it could be even Japanese—it doesn’t mean I change my focus. My focus is acting,” stated the actor.
Namrata Shirodkar: From pageantry to parenthood
Namrata Shirodkar was one of the most loved and gorgeous stars of Indian cinema. She was a perfect blend of beauty and talent. Her work in ‘Vaastav’ and ‘Pukar’ is to date appreciated by the audience and critics alike.
Despite all the love and appreciation, at the peak of her career, Namrata quit acting. She chose another heaven, another realm to cherish, as she got married to Mahesh Babu in 2025. She invested all her time, love, and effort into her family. Today, she is a mother of two and is enjoying a fulfilled married life.
Rimi Sen: The ‘Dhoom’ Girl who faded away
Another star who made an impressive debut in the Bollywood realm is Rimi Sen. In 2003, she entered the world of cinema with ‘Hungama,’ and then with films like ‘Golmaal: Fun Unlimited,’ ‘Garam Masala’ and others, she gained stardom. However, gradually, she wasn’t seen much on the big screen. The actress who faced the camera at the young age of 20, was no more seen on the camera.
Talking about the same she mentioned in an old interview with us, “I started off with music videos and songs, so I had to work because of financial issues. I didn’t even have a degree to earn my bread and butter. But since I am a trained classical dancer, expressions came naturally to me. I never chose this profession, it chose me. I am not fond of attention and fame; I don’t like being noticed by anyone or being a popular person. I got into modeling, made a portfolio, and entered films because I just wanted to be financially stable. I wanted to make money, that was my only goal in life.”
She wanted to do serious movies and tried her hand in the same. However, after a decade in the industry, she took a break. She is looking for good work now, but at the age of 27-28, she decided it was time for her to give things a little rest.
“I am a descendant of freedom fighter Surya Sen; he was related to my grandfather and I belong to his bloodline, so, I had a certain sense of arrogance in me. I was also in the mood for protest, but when I calmed down, I realised that roles were more important than acting and that one has to gel well with the entire team. It was very mechanical for me. I left the industry by the time I was 27-28 as I was getting work that I didn’t want to do,” she said.
These accounts of Bollywood stars highlight the volatile nature of fame and the choices artists make. Some leave due to personal challenges, some are turned down by the dissatisfaction of work, while some find their happiness in family. However, the stories of their stardom remain timeless.